Shark Sighting Reported in Misquamicut 50 Yards From Shore

Swimmers at Misquamicut State Beach in Rhode Island, a popular destination for Connecticut beachgoers, had quite the scare on Friday, after they were ordered to clear the water following a reported shark sighting.

According to WPRI, beach authorities, swimmers and lifeguards alike said they spotted a fin that is believed to have been that of a mako shark around 9:45 AM on Friday (August 2). The sighting reportedly happened right near a buoy of a designated swimming area that is only about 50 yards from the shore.

The report says that a member of Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management, Michael Healey, was quoted as saying, "We restricted access to the water to ankle depth. One of our marine biologists confirmed that the fin most likely was that of a mako shark. At about 10:30 a.m., our staff saw a second fin, much farther out.”

As per department policy, the DEM kept swimmers out of the water for about an hour or so before opening up the area around 11:30 AM.